Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for mounting lamps such as flashlights
to bicycles.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Apparatuses have heretofore been developed for mounting dry cell battery powered
flashlights to bicycles in various manners. For example, some mounting devices have
been developed for mounting flashlights to bicycles to provide oscillatory types of
safety lamps. Exemplary of these are those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,788,763
and 2,811,633. Apparatuses have also been developed for mounting flashlights to the
rears of bicycles to provide taillights. U.S. Patent No. 2,728,824 explifies these
types of mounts. Still other apparatuses have been devised for mounting flashlights
to bicycles to provide headlights as exemplified by those disclosed in U.S. Patent
Nos. 1,449,509 and 4,170,337. The present invention specifically relates to the last
mentioned type of mounting devices.
[0003] The prior art apparatuses used in mounting bicycle headlights have had a number of
deficiencies. For example, being secured as with nuts and bolts to the bicycles, they
have required the use of tools such as pliers to mount them. In addition, those to
which flashlights are not permanently mounted like that shown in U.S. Patent 4,170,337,
have also required the manipulation of other fastening means, such as wing nuts and
the like, to mount the flashlights securely to the mounts once the mounts themselves
have been mounted, and to dismount the flashlights from the mounts. Thus, even when
the flashlights are dismounted the mounts typically remain on the bicycles. Not only
are such naked mounts unsightly but they provide dead weight.
[0004] The stability of the prior art mounting apparatuses has also been lacking. Once mounted
the flashlights have often not been located along a fore and aft axis of the bicycle,
being in the plane in which the bike wheels lie when mutually aligned. With the advent
of modern light-weight, high-speed bicycles the mounting of relatively heavy flashlights,
fully loaded with batteries, off of their fore and aft axes has provided an adverse
imbalance that is clearly discernable by discriminating riders. In addition to being
off-axis they have also been mounted at some distance from the axes of the upright
front wheel steering stems thereby creating moments of inertia about the stem axes
each time the bicycles strike bumps or depressions in the roadway. This has tended
to loosen the flashlights from their mounts as well as the mounts from the bicycles.
[0005] In addition to the foregoing, the flashlight mounting apparatuses of the prior art
have not possessed the capability of enabling a rider to alter flashlight tilt readily
while riding so as to effect changes in beam angle. Some of the devices have also
been lacking in versatility with regard to their ability to mount flashlights of different
shapes and sizes without having to interchange mount parts. Still others have also
had a tendency to scratch or mar the bicycles. Accordingly, it is to the provision
of apparatuses and methods of mounting flashlights to bicycles which overcome these
deficiencies of the prior art to which the present invention is primarily directed.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] In one form of the invention apparatus for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle having
a steering stem formed with a collar through which handlebars extend comprises a support
having a bottom surface contoured to be seated snugly atop the bicycle steering stem
neck adjacent the neck collar and a concave upper surface in which a flashlight may
be nestled. The apparatus also comprises a flexible strap bearing fastening means.
The strap is secured to the support and is of a sufficient length as to be wrapped
over a flashlight nestled in the support concave upper surface and under the bicycle
stem neck atop which the support is snugly seated and secured to itself by the fastening
means.
[0007] In another form of the invention apparatus for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle
along a bicycle axis comprises an elongated base having a bottom surface contoured
to be seated snugly atop the bicycle steering stem neck with a rear base end located
adjacent the stem and a forward base end located adjacent a neck collar. The apparatus
also includes an elongated cradle having a concave top surface in which a flashlight
may be nestled. The cradle is pivotably mounted atop the base along a pivot axis located
adjacent the base forward end and a forward end of the cradle. Means are also provided
for adjusting the height of the cradle rear end with respect to the base rear end
whereby the angle of the tilt of the flashlight nestled atop the cradle may be altered.
Binding means are provided for binding both the base to the bicycle neck and a flashlight
to the cradle.
[0008] In yet another form of the invention apparatus for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle
of the type having a neck that extends from an upright stem to a neck collar through
which handlebars extend comprises a T-shaped support having a trunk and a crossarm
with the bottom surface of the trunk being contoured to be seated flush atop the bicycle
neck and with the bottom surface of the crossarm being contoured to be seated flush
atop the bicycle neck collar. A self-adherent elastic strap is mounted at one end
to the support which is of the length sufficient to encircle the support, a flashlight
mounted atop the support and a flashlight neck atop which the support is mounted.
[0009] In still another form of the invention a method of mounting a flashlight to a bicycle
comprises the steps of placing a bicycle support atop the bicycle steering stem neck
and a neck collar through which handlebars extend, placing a flashlight atop the support
along the bicycle axis with the flashlight center of gravity preferably located substantially
along the axis of the bicycle stem, and releaseably binding together the bicycle stem
neck, flashlight support and flashlight.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0010]
Fig. 1 is a disassembled view, in perspective, of a steering portion of a bicycle,
flashlight mounting apparatus embodying principles of the present invention, and a
flashlight.
Fig. 2 is an assembled view, in perspective, of the devices illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the flashlight mounting apparatus depicted in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the flashlight mounting apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the flashlight mounting apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2 taken along the plane
6-6 identified in Fig. 5.
Detailed Description
[0011] Referring now in detail to the drawing, there is shown apparatus indicated generally
at 10 for mounting a flashlight 12 to a bicycle 14 along a front to rear axis lying
within the vertical plane in which the bicycle wheels lie when aligned and along which
plane the bicycle tubular frame member 15 also lies. The bicycle is seen to have a
steering column 16 from which emerges a steering stem 17 that is formed with a neck18
that terminates with a collar or clamp 19 from which handlebars 11 laterally extend.
The mounting apparatus is essentially a T-shaped support. More specifically, it comprises
an elongated cradle 20 of a generally T-shaped configuration having an elongated trunk
21 formed with a concave upper surface 22 which trunk merges with a laterally extending
crossarm 24 having convex upper surfaces 25 that straddle a concave upper surface
22' that merges with trunk surface 22. The degree of curvature of surfaces 22 and
22' is made to match generally that of the surface of casing 13 of the flashlight
12 which casing is normally cylindrical. The surfaces 22 and 22' are preferably covered
with a resilient pad 26. The cradle is also formed with two side wings 27 whose upper
surfaces are also concave so as to merge laterally with the concave upper surface
22. The bottom surface of the crossarm portion of the cradle, as shown in Fig. 5,
has a concave central portion 29 and two other concave portions 30 that straddle portions
29. The portion 29 is contoured to match generally the surface of the bicycle neck
collar 19 while portions 30 are contoured to match generally that of handlebars 11.
The bottom surfaces of the crossarm 24 are also covered with a resilient pad 32. These
various pads, which are secured to the cradle by adhesive, are not shown in Figs.
4 and 5, for clarity of explanation.
[0012] With continued reference to the drawing the apparatus is seen also to include a base
indicated generally at 35 which, like the cradle, is preferably formed of plastic.
The base 35 is pivotably mounted to the cradle by a pivot pin 36. The bottom surface
37 of the base is concave and covered with a resilient pad 38 that also is not shown
in Fig. 5. A tang 40 is rigidly mounted to the rear end 41 of the base which has a
reentrant projection or lip 42 which overlays a step 43 formed in the rear end 44
of the cradle. This construction enables the lip 42 to serve as a stop in limiting
pivotable movement of the cradle rear end away from the base rear end. A thumbscrew
46 is threaded upon a post 47 whose bottom end is rigidly mounted to the base 35 and
whose upper end extends into a recess formed in the cradle 20, as shown in Fig. 3.
The thumbscrew provides means for changing the elevation and the rear end of the cradle
20 with respect to the base 35 by pivotable movement about pivot pin 36. Again, such
pivotal movement is limited by the stop action of the lip 42 of tang 40.
[0013] With continued reference to the drawing the mounting apparatus is further seen to
include a strap indicated generally at 50 which has one end 51 secured as by adhesive
to one wing 27 of the cradle. This permanently attached end 51 of the strap is formed
with a self-fastening material as is its opposite, free end 52. Preferably, mating
Velcro strips are used for self-fastening materials. So constructed, the two strap
ends may be releasably fastened by merely pressing them flushly together. Velcro,
as is well know, is formed of two mating strips of fibrous material with one being
composed of a mass of hook-like fibrous anchors and the other of matting material.
The two strap ends 51 and 52 are connected by an elastic section 54. The length of
the entire strap is sufficient to enable it to encircle the cylindrical casing 13
of the flashlight 12, the bicycle stem neck 18 as well as the mouting apparatus itself,
and the two strap ends 51 and 52 to be overlaid and releasably fastened together as
shown in Figs. 2 and 6. It should be noted that when this is done the strap not only
encircles the assembly but does so in almost continuous contact therewith as shown
in Fig. 6.
[0014] Finally, the apparatus is seen to include a screw 60 having a head 61 formed on an
end of a threaded shank 62. A portion of the head 61 is located above the bottom of
the upper concave surface 22 of the cradle to provide an adjustable stop for the front
end of the flashlight 12, as shown in Fig. 2.
[0015] In use the apparatus is placed flush atop the bicycle neck 18 the neck collar 19
and the handlebars 11. This is done quite securely since the bottom surface 37 of
the base is contoured to fit snugly atop the upper surface of the neck 18 and the
bottom surfaces 29 and 30 of the cradle crossbar contoured to fit snugly atop the
bicycle neck collar 19 and handlebars 11, respectively. Slight size differences in
bicycle necks and neck collar diameters matter little in view of the provision of
the pads. The flashlight 12 may contemporaneously or before or afterwards be placed
atop the cradle 20 with its cylindrical casing 13 nestled snugly within the concave
surfaces 22 and 22' of the cradle and with the front end of the flashlight butted
against screw head 61. The stop may then be adjusted to position the center of gravity
c.g. of the flashlight along the axis 68 of bicycle stem 17 that projects upwardly
out of the steering column 16. Again, slight mismatches between flashlight casing
and cradle sizes are compensated by the pad 26.
[0016] Next, the strap 50 is wrapped tautly over the upper surface of the flashlight casing
13, wing 27, around the bottom of neck 18 and the strap end 52 pressed against and
thereby fastened to strap end 51. The flashlight is now securely mounted to the bicycle
as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 with the strap almost continuously flush against the flashlight,
mount and bicycle stem since the side walls of cradle wings 27 extend tangentially
to the flashlight casing and the stem. To dismount the flashlight and the mounting
apparatus the strap end 52 is merely peeled from strap end 51 and unwrapped from under
the bottom of the bicycle neck and flashlight whereupon both the mounting apparatus
as well as the flashlight are dismounted from the bicycle.
[0017] It thus is seen that a unique method and apparatus is now provided for mounting a
flashlight to a bicycle. The apparatus is of relatively simple, economical and light-weight
construction. It, as well as the flashlight which it holds, may be readily mounted
and dismounted to a bicycle with manual facility and without the use of ancillary
tools. Once mounted the flashlight is positioned along a fore and aft axis of the
bicycle whereby translational equilibrium is not disrupted by the weights of the mount
and of the flashlight being laterally off-axis. Furthermore, as the center of gravity
of the flashlight is located upon the stem axis moments of inertia do not tend to
be created that would tend to pitch the flashlight as the bicycle encounters depressions
and bumps in the roadways over which it is driven. Its construction also provided
a very high degree of stability of both the mounting apparatus as well as the flashlight
once mounted to a bicycle with virtually no chance of the mount or the flashlight
becoming loosen or falling from the bicycle unless the mount or flashlight itself
is actually struck by some object.
[0018] It should, of course, be understood that the just described embodiment merely illustrates
principles of the invention in one preferred form. Many modifications, additions and
deletions may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention
as set forth in the following claims.
1. Apparatus for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle having a steering stem formed
with a neck and with a collar through which handlebars extend, and with the apparatus
comprising a support having a bottom surface contoured to be seated snugly atop the
bicycle steering stem neck adjacent the collar and a concave upper surface in which
a flashlight may be nestled, and a flexible strap bearing fastening means that is
secured to said support and is of a sufficient length as to be wrapped over a flashlight
nestled in said support concave upper surface and under the bicycle stem neck atop
which the support is snugly seated and secured to itself by said fastening means.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said strap is at least partially elastic, wherein
said support has upper and lower sections, and wherein said apparatus further comprises
means for adjusting the position of said upper section with respect to said lower
section.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support comprises an elongated base that
has said support bottom surface and an elongated cradle that has said support upper
surface and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the height
of a rear end of said cradle with respect to a rear end of said base whereby the angle
of tilt of a flashlight nestled atop said cradle may be altered.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said height adjustment means includes a threaded
post mounted atop said base upon which a thrumbscrew is threaded.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cradle is formed with a pair of side wings
whose lower portions closely straddle said base and whose upper portions provide concave
extensions of said cradle concave top surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support is T-shaped and has a trunk and a
crossarm with the trunk having said support bottom surface which is contoured to be
seated flush atop the bicycle neck and with the crossarm having said support upper
surface which is contoured to be seated flush atop the bicycle neck collar.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bottom surface of said crossarm is contoured
to be seated flush atop the bicycle neck collar and that portion of the handlebars
that emerge from the collar.
8. A method of mounting a flashlight to a bicycle comprising the steps of placing
a flashlight support atop the bicycle steering stem neck and the neck collar through
which handlebars extend, placing a flashlight atop the support along a fore and aft
axis of the bicycle lying in the plane of the bicycle rear wheel, and releasably binding
together the bicycle stem, flashlight support and flashlight.
9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the bicycle stem, flashlight support and flashlight
are bound together by encircling them with binding means.
10. The method of Claim 8 wherein the flashlight is placed atop the support with the
flashlight center of gravity located substantially along the axis of the bicycle steering
stem.